Galanthus nivalis

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Galanthus nivalis
Galanthus nivalis.jpg
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Galanthus
Species:
G. nivalis
Binomial name
Galanthus nivalis
L.
GalanthusNivalisIUCN.svg
Range of G. nivalis, excluding introduced range in the British Isles
  Extant, resident
Synonyms [3]
  • Chianthemum nivale(L.) Kuntze
  • Galanthus alexandriPorcius
  • Galanthus imperatiBertol.
  • Galanthus melvilleiVoss
  • Galanthus montanusSchur
  • Galanthus scharlokii(Casp.) Baker
  • Galanthus umbricusDammann

Galanthus nivalis, the snowdrop or common snowdrop, is the best-known and most widespread of the 20 species in its genus, Galanthus . Snowdrops are among the first bulbs to bloom in spring and can form impressive carpets of white in areas where they are native or have been naturalised. They should not be confused with the snowflakes, in the genera Leucojum and Acis .

Contents

Naming

The generic name Galanthus, from the Greek gala (milk) and anthos (flower), was given to the genus by Carl Linnaeus in 1735. He described Galanthus nivalis in his Species Plantarum published in 1753. The epithet nivalis means "of the snow", referring either to the snow-like flower or the plant's early flowering. [4]

The common name snowdrop first appeared in the 1633 edition of John Gerard's Great Herbal (in the first edition (1597) he described it as the "Timely flowring Bulbus violet"). The derivation of the name is uncertain, although it may have come from the German word Schneetropfen, which was a type of earring popular around that time. [5] Other British traditional common names include "February fairmaids", "dingle-dangle", "Candlemas bells", "Mary's tapers" [6] and, in parts of Yorkshire, "snow piercers" (like the French name perce-neige). [7]

Distribution and habitat

Distribution map of Galanthus species in Europe and Western Asia. (An attempt at a representation according to the natural place indicated in the respective Wikipedia pages (en, de, ru, fr) Distribution of the galanthus species.png
Distribution map of Galanthus species in Europe and Western Asia. (An attempt at a representation according to the natural place indicated in the respective Wikipedia pages (en, de, ru, fr)

Galanthus nivalis is widely grown in gardens, particularly in northern Europe, and is widely naturalised in woodlands in the regions where it is grown. It is, however, native to a large area of Europe, from Spain in the west, eastwards to Ukraine. It is native to Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine. It is considered naturalised in Great Britain, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and parts of North America (Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Ontario, Massachusetts, Alabama, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Washington state, New York state, Michigan, Utah, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina). [8] [9]

Naturalized snowdrops in Wissahickon Valley Park in early March. Snowdrop-Wissahickon-march.jpg
Naturalized snowdrops in Wissahickon Valley Park in early March.

Although often thought of as a British native wild flower, or to have been brought to the British Isles by the Romans, it is now thought that it was probably introduced much later, perhaps around the early sixteenth century. [10]

Description

Common snowdrop Galanthus nivalis close-up aka.jpg
Common snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis drawing.png

Galanthus nivalis grows to around 7–15 cm tall, flowering between January and April in the northern temperate zone (January–May in the wild). [10] They are perennial, herbaceous plants which grow from bulbs. Each bulb generally produces two linear, or very narrowly lanceolate, greyish-green leaves and an erect, leafless scape (flowering stalk), which bears at the top a pair of bract-like spathe valves joined by a papery membrane. From between them emerges a solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped white flower, held on a slender pedicel.

The flower consists of six tepals, also referred to as segments. The outer three are larger and more convex than the inner ones. The inner flower segments are usually marked on their outer surface with a green or greenish-yellow V- or U-shaped mark (sometimes described as "bridge-shaped") over the small sinus (notch) at the tip of each tepal. The inner surface has a faint green mark covering all or most of it. Occasionally plants are found with green markings on the outer surface of the outer tepals.

The six long, pointed anthers open by pores or short slits. The ovary is three-celled, ripening into a three-celled capsule. Each whitish seed has a small, fleshy tail (the elaiosome) containing substances attractive to ants which distribute the seeds. [11] The leaves die back a few weeks after the flowers have faded.

G. nivalis is a cross-pollinating plant, but sometimes self-pollination takes place. It is pollinated by bees. [1]

Cultivation and propagation

See Galanthus §Propagation.

Active substances

Snowdrops contain an active substance called galantamine (or galanthamine) which can be helpful in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, [12] though it is not a cure. Galantamine was first isolated and extracted from snowdrops by a team of chemists led by Dimitar Paskov in Bulgaria, where snowdrops are endemic.

Snowdrops contain also an active lectin or agglutinin named GNA for Galanthus nivalis agglutinin. It forms a homotetramer of beta barrels that can bind up to twelve mannose residues. [13] [14] It is insecticidal, likely causing toxicity by binding glycated elements of the insect's gut, [14] and has antiretroviral properties. [13] Potatoes have been genetically modified with the GNA gene. [15] In 1998 Árpád Pusztai said in an interview on a World in Action programme that his group had observed damage to the intestines and immune systems of rats fed the genetically modified potatoes. He also said "If I had the choice I would certainly not eat it", and that "I find it's very unfair to use our fellow citizens as guinea pigs". [16] These remarks were criticised by the scientific community and started the so-called Pusztai affair. A subsequent review of Pusztai's work by the Royal Society showed that Pusztai's experiments were poorly designed and used incorrect statistical analysis. [17]

Cultivars

Galanthus nivalis [18] has won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The common double snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno', had appeared by 1703, when it was illustrated in The Duchess of Beaufort's Book. It spread (and was spread) rapidly through northern Europe (by vegetative means, as it sets no seed). With 3–5 outer segments and 12–21 inner segments, which are often misshapen, the flowers may be less attractive to the eye of the purist than single-flowered or neater double cultivars, but they are good value in the garden as the bulbs spread rapidly and the large flowers show up well.

There are numerous named cultivars of G. nivalis, single, semi-double, double and "poculiform" (meaning goblet or cup-shaped, this refers to flowers with inner segments that are almost the same shape and length as the outer ones). Apart from these traits they differ particularly in the size and markings of the flower and the period of flowering; other characteristics are less obvious to the untrained eye and are mainly of interest to "galanthophiles".

Some single-flowered cultivars

Source: [19]

Galanthus nivalis 'Atkinsii', 18 cm high Snowdrops Galanthus nivalis Atkinsii.JPG
Galanthus nivalis 'Atkinsii', 18 cm high
Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice' Snowdrop 'Viridi-Apice'.jpg
Galanthus nivalis 'Viridapice'

Some double-flowered cultivars

A double snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno' Snowdrop bells.jpg
A double snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno'

Source: [21]

Snowdrop gardens

In the UK and Ireland, many gardens open specially in February for visitors to admire the flowers. These displays may attract large numbers of sightseers. Some feature extensive displays of naturalised G. nivalis; others have more specialised collections of many species, forms and cultivars.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Galanthus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidacee

Galanthus, or snowdrop, is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. The plants have two linear leaves and a single small white drooping bell-shaped flower with six petal-like (petaloid) tepals in two circles (whorls). The smaller inner petals have green markings.

<i>Leucojum</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae

Leucojum is a small genus of bulbous plants native to Eurasia belonging to the amaryllis family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. As currently circumscribed, the genus includes only two known species, most former species having been moved into the genus Acis. Both genera are known as snowflakes.

Árpád János Pusztai was a Hungarian-born British biochemist and nutritionist who spent 36 years at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland. He was a world expert on plant lectins, authoring 270 papers and three books on the subject.

A galanthophile is an enthusiastic collector and identifier of snowdrop (Galanthus) species and cultivars.

<i>Ulex europaeus</i> Species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae

Ulex europaeus, the gorse, common gorse, furze or whin, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to Western Europe.

<i>Diplarrena</i> Genus of flowering plants

Diplarrena is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The two species are endemic to Australia. The name is from Greek diploos ("double") and arren ("male"); plants in the genus have only two functional stamens, while all other Iridaceae have three. The name is often misspelled Diplarrhena, an error that began with George Bentham's Flora Australiensis in 1873.

<i>Narcissus pseudonarcissus</i> Species of plant

Narcissus pseudonarcissus, commonly named the wild daffodil or Lent lily, is a perennial flowering plant.

<i>Acis</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae

Acis is a genus of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants in the amaryllis family. The genus consists of nine species distributed in Europe and Northern Africa. Acis was previously included in Leucojum; both genera are known as snowflakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pusztai affair</span> Controversy in genetic engineering

The Pusztai affair is a controversy that began in 1998. The protein scientist Árpád Pusztai went public with the initial results of unpublished research he was conducting at the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland, investigating the possible effects of genetically modified potatoes upon rats. Pusztai claimed that the genetically modified potatoes had stunted growth and repressed the rats' immune systems while thickening their gut mucosa. Initially supported by the Rowett Institute, his comments on a British television programme caused a storm of controversy, and the Rowett Institute withdrew its support. Pusztai was suspended and misconduct procedures were used to seize his data and ban him from speaking publicly. The institute did not renew his annual contract and Pusztai was criticized by the Royal Society and some other scientists for making an announcement before his experiment was complete or peer-reviewed and for the experiment's design, methodology and analysis. Some of the data from the study was eventually published in The Lancet in 1999 after five out of six peer reviewers approved of the study – triggering further controversy.

<i>Leucojum vernum</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Leucojum vernum, commonly called the spring snowflake, St. Agnes' flower, and rarely snowbell among others, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to central and southern Europe from Belgium to Ukraine. It is considered naturalized in north-western Europe, including Great Britain and parts of Scandinavia, and in the US states of Georgia and Florida. This spring flowering bulbous herbaceous perennial is cultivated as an ornamental for a sunny position. The plant multiplies in favourable conditions to form clumps. Each plant bears a single white flower with greenish marks near the tip of the tepal, on a stem about 10–20 cm (3.9–7.9 in) tall, occasionally more.

<i>Galanthus woronowii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Galanthus woronowii, the green snowdrop or Woronow's snowdrop, is a bulbous plant native to north-east Turkey and the west and central Caucasus. In cultivation particularly, it has often been confused with two other species with broad green leaves and a single green mark on the inner tepals: Galanthus ikariae and Galanthus platyphyllus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetically modified potato</span> Potato that has had its genes modified using genetic engineering

A genetically modified potato is a potato that has had its genes modified, using genetic engineering. Goals of modification include introducing pest resistance, tweaking the amounts of certain chemicals produced by the plant, and to prevent browning or bruising of the tubers. Varieties modified to produce large amounts of starches may be approved for industrial use only, not for food.

<i>Galanthus elwesii</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Galanthus elwesii, Elwes's snowdrop or greater snowdrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to the Balkans and Asia Minor, where it is found in the countries of Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Moldova, Ukraine and Turkey.

<i>Acis autumnalis</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Acis autumnalis, the autumn snowflake, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. A short bulbous perennial, it is found on the western shores of the Mediterranean, from Portugal, Spain and Morocco to Sicily and Tunisia.

<i>Acis rosea</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Acis rosea, known as the rose snowflake, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Corsica and Sardinia. Unlike most members of the genus Acis, it has pink rather than white flowers. It is grown as an ornamental plant but requires protection from frost.

<i>Galanthus reginae-olgae</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Galanthus reginae-olgae, Queen Olga's snowdrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Sicily and the west and north-west Balkans. Some variants produce their pendant white flowers in autumn, others in winter and early spring. It is cultivated as ornamental bulbous plant, preferring warmer situations in the garden than other species of Galanthus (snowdrops).

<i>Galanthus plicatus</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Galanthus plicatus, the pleated snowdrop, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to eastern Europe and western Asia. It is a spring flowering bulbous herbaceous perennial.

<i>Galanthus alpinus <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> alpinus</i> Species of flowering plant

Galanthus alpinus var. alpinus, also known as the Caucasian snowdrop, is a variety of flowering plant within the subfamily Amaryllidoideae.

<i>Galanthus lagodechianus</i> Species of flowering plant

Galanthus lagodechianus is a species of snowdrop in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Armenia, Azerbaijan, east Georgia and the Russian Federation.

References

  1. 1 2 Crook, V.; Davis, A.P. (2011). "Galanthus nivalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T162168A5551773. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T162168A5551773.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
  3. The Plant List
  4. Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002) , pp. 10, 18 (Introduction)
  5. Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002) , p. ix (Introduction)
  6. Mabey (1996) , p. 421
  7. Mabey (1996) , p. 425
  8. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Galanthus nivalis
  9. Biota of North America Program
  10. 1 2 Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002) , p. 17
  11. Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002) , p. 7
  12. Birks J (January 2006). Birks JS (ed.). "Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016 (1): CD005593. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005593. PMC   9006343 . PMID   16437532.
  13. 1 2 Hester, Gerko; Kaku, Hanae; Goldstein, Irwin J.; Wright, Christine Schubert (1995). "Structure of mannose-specific snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) lectin is representative of a new plant lectin family". Nature Structural Biology. 2 (6): 472–479. doi:10.1038/nsb0695-472. PMID   7664110.
  14. 1 2 Harrus, Deborah (1 February 2023). "Snowdrop lectins". Protein Data Bank in Europe. Artwork by Beatrice Gibbons. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  15. Gatehouse, Angharad M.R.; Davison, Gillian M.; Newell, Christine A.; Merryweather, Andrew; Hamilton, William D.O.; Burgess, Elisabeth P.J.; Gilbert, Robert J.C.; Gatehouse, John A. (1997). "Transgenic potato plants with enhanced resistance to the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea: growth room trials". Molecular Breeding . 3 (1). Springer Science+Business: 49–63. doi:10.1023/a:1009600321838. ISSN   1380-3743. S2CID   23765916.
  16. "Árpád Pusztai: Biological Divide – James Randerson interviews biologist Árpád Pusztai". The Guardian. London. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  17. Murray, Noreen (1999). "Review of data on possible toxicity of GM potatoes" (PDF). The Royal Society.
  18. "Galanthus nivalis". RHS Plant Selector. RHS. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  19. Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002) , pp. 76–112
  20. Stern (1956) , p. 65
  21. Bishop, Davis & Grimshaw (2002) , pp. 112–126

Bibliography

Further reading